Yaroslav

Korolev

The board of directors for CSKA Moscow, the club team that holds Korolev’s rights, will meet to discuss a contract buyout that would clear the way for the Clippers to sign Korolev, agent Marc Fleisher said. He’ll have no fantasy value this year, even if he goes to the Clips.

Word on the street is he’s not ready for the NBA, so he will probably only see garbage time this season, meaning he’s not draftworthy in fantasy leagues. However, this is good news for the Clips, because they can send him to the developmental league or keep him at the end of their bench, monitoring his development. He’s still not signed, and this is not official, but it appears he’s coming.

He was freed from his contract in Russia and will probably bounce between the NBDL and the Clippers this year, but will have no fantasy value until he puts some meat on his bones.

This is somewhat surprising because it’s widely believed thhe 18-year-old’s not ready to play in the NBA. It’s good news for Korolev, but he still won’t have fantasy value this season.

Of course, they were non-committal in all their comments about the draft, and we wouldn’t be surprised if a deal has in fact been struck. Korolev turned 18 last month, is 6-9 and his father, Igor, coaches the Russian junior national team.

Maybe the least surprising pick of the night as there have been solid rumors of him going to the Clippers for several weeks. He needs to gain some weight and they have to hope his strong play for scouts (and Mike Dunleavy) in Europe wasn’t a fluke. He’s only 18 and can shoot it and handle the ball well, but he won’t make an impact for several years. He’s not worth drafting in fantasy leagues next year.

Korolev was offered a new contract after last season, but it was rescinded after the team’s plans changed when All-Star forward Elton Brand tore his Achilles’ tendon. He’ll still struggle to make the team’s final roster and could still end up playing in Europe this season.

Korolev was taken with the 12th pick in the 2005 draft, which was clearly the biggest draft-day mistake made by Mike Dunleavy.

Korolev will still struggle to make the team’s final roster, but the loss of Shaun Livingston and Elton Brand will give him an outside shot of being in uniform on opening night. That said, it’s pretty clear that the Clippers made a mistake by taking him with the 12th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft.

“The situation with the contract is not final yet, but we’re working on it and I’m still with the Clippers,” Korolev said. “I’m happy I’m going to be here.”